Mendoza

Learn more about Mendoza

With its western borderline dominated by the Andes and its 146,000 hectares of vineyards representing 70% of the country’s wine production, Mendoza is Argentina’sbiggest and most important wine-growing province.

Mendoza still produces large amounts of inexpensive wine for domestic consumption, as well as grape concentrate, but the sub-region of Luján de Cuyo stands out with some lovely velvety Malbecs, while the cool, gravelly Maipú is best for Cabernet Sauvignon.

The most exciting area in Mendoza for fine whites, however, is the Uco Valley, that has the highest vineyards, up to 1,200 metres above sea level. Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Chenin, Pinot Grigio and Torrontés fare particularly well in its cool climate. Its sub-region of Tupungato produces Argentina’s best Chardonnay.

The 2017 vintage was wonderful at Pulenta, as is demonstrated by the sheer class of this wine. Soft hedgerow-fruit aromas are allied to a bright, raspberry freshness. More gentle red and black berry fruit follows on the palate, but it is the gloriously smooth and silky texture that really defines this wine. This is a concentrated, pure, supremely enjoyable Malbec.Will Heslop - Wine Buyer

Pulenta’s La Flor is a delightfully fresh, floral and red berry scented take on Argentinian Malbec. It is medium-bodied, with lively acidity. Six months in one-year old barrels contribute a luxurious hint of vanilla to the finish. This is a snappy, moreish accompaniment to gourmet beef burgers.Will Heslop, Wine Buyer

Alpamanta are pioneers of Argentine bio-dynamic farming and minimal intervention wine—making. This approach has spawned a subtly oaked Chardonnay wine, with tropical fruit ripeness well balanced by citrus freshness, which has developed very well in bottle, despite an expectation that it might have been drunk earlier. A very pleasant surprise.

In 2002 a group of friends bought land in the premium Gualtallaray zone of the Uco Valley. A well-known local winemaker used their fruit for his top terroir wine. His first vintage of the Malbec achieved 94 Parker points, leading the wines to be bottled under the autonomous Ambrosía label. The 2013 is the debut vintage of Ambrosía’s Chardonnay and it is impressive.

Warm lemon and white peach aromas are followed by riper flavours of yellow apple and nectarine, accompanied by toasty notes of lees-ageing. Ripe but refined with good texture and length, this is exclusive to Berry Bros. & Rudd in the UK. Match with roast loin of pork, macaroni cheese, Gruyère cheese.

Ambrosia’s 2014 Viña Unica Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine to sink in to. Ripe blackcurrant fruit oozes from the glass and is perfectly supported with fine yet pertinent tannins. There is an undeniable richness to the fruit, however a fine seam of crystalline acidity keeps all in check. The long finish would suggest that while Mendoza is best known for its Malbec, this Cabernet Sauvignon is well worth the detour; it is delicious.Catriona Felstead MW, Wine Buyer

Produced in Gualtallary, the sub-zone known as the “grand cru” of Mendoza, the 2014 Ambrosia Viña Unica Malbec is seriously impressive. Layers of dark blackberry and blueberry fruit wash over the palate. The wine is rich and structured yet it is the finesse and freshness of this wine, coming from the high proportion of limestone in the soil, that makes it extremely appealing. This is an excellent Malbec that really overdelivers.Catriona Felstead MW, Wine Buyer

Another wine from Ambrosia showcasing the potential of Argentina’s Gualtallary district. Like all the finca’s wines, this is grown at a staggering 1250 metres altitude, which accounts for its lifted aromatics and mouth-watering freshness. A dash of Cabernet Franc (5%) contributes extra acidity. As you’d hope of an Argentinian Malbec, it has considerable power too, with a rich, chocolatey texture, enhanced by 18 months in new French oak. Drink now to 2022.Will Heslop - Wine Buyer

Ambrosiá was established in 2002, occupying some of the most prized terroir in Mendoza. The finca is located in Gualtallary, a sub-region of Mendoza renowned for producing exceptionally fresh, mineral wines. The wines are made by a team of experts including terroir specialist Dr Pedro Parra and renowned winemaker Daniel Pi.

This is an intense, concentrated style of Malbec brimming with blueberry fruit and vanilla spice. The wine is rich and mouthcoating on the palate, but its beauty lies in the juxtaposition of the fruit with a pure, fresh, mineral character which comes from the limestone soils in which it was grown.

The bodega’s top wine, this has a hugely seductive bouquet majoring on black fruit and liquorice. 5% Cabernet Franc contributes a beguiling floral lift, while the same proportion of Petit Verdot adds savoury spice to the nose and palate. Expect ripe, velvety tannins – it’s almost chocolatey in texture – fresh acidity and a clear saline character, speaking of the exceptional terroir of La Consulta vineyard. Two years in new French oak have rounded this wine’s edges without dimming its energy. The finish is long and impeccably balanced. Drink now to 2026.Stuart Rae - Fine wine team

Graphite, damsons and mocha on the nose. There is sweet spice as well. There is a huge volume of fruit on both the nose and palate, perfectly balanced by fully ripe and integrated tannins and a mineral freshness. There is a vanillin note from the oak on the finish but it’s not overwhelming. A very impressive effort. Perfect for a couple of years in the cellar then drinking over the following decade. The best yet.Fergus Stewart - Private Account Manager

Characteristic dark chocolate notes from the Malbec ensure you know where this is from but the 2010 also shows all the benefits of a cooler vintage in Argentina; full, powerful and ripe but there’s a freshness and finesse which one associates with fine Bordeaux. The 2010 reminds me of the fantastic 2007 Cheval des Andes, the wines of this estate are becoming more focussed and pure when the climate allows.Martyn Rolph - Private Account Manager

A New World Grand Cru - Cheval des Andes is a high-end wine project that’s a collaboration between Terrazas de los Andes and Pierre Lurton of Cheval Blanc. The joint venture was proposed by Pierre Lurton in 1999 when he realized the potential for top quality wines that existed in certain sites in Mendoza.

Lurton was eager in connecting again with the grape of Saint Emilion’s past: Malbec. A grape that was decimated by phylloxera in the 1860s from its position as one of the most important varieties in Saint Emilion and Pomerol. It has since been reincarnated at Cheval des Andes in an un grafted form in Argentina, producing some of the world’s best Malbecs in recent years.

Today Pierre Lurton acts as Managing Director of Cheval des Andes alongside Winemaker Nicholas Audebert. Cheval des Andes wines are a blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the high elevation, 77 year old "Las Compuertas" vineyards near Mendoza. Some of the Malbec vines are as old as the vineyard itself and ungrafted.

The 2009 is dark, dense and brooding, a gentle coaxing reveals cassis, damson, black pepper and a touch of tobacco leaf. Big bright fruit on the palate is weaved into subtle and velvety tannins. There is an impressive level of detail here, with the oak perfectly integrated to the polished fruit. 59% Malbec, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. This is a fine example of the potential that leading Chateau have seen in Mendoza. A perfect match for carne asada.Fergus Stewart, Private Account Manager

I’ve had the pleasure of being able to taste numerous vintages of Cheval des Andes over the years and this is simply the best yet. Ripe and generous, but not overblown, with a massive abundance of sunny blackcurrant and blackberry fruit on the nose and palate and a very fine tannic structure and floral finish that seems to go on forever. Simply gorgeous now, this will reward some additional cellaring (another three to five years easily. If you broach this early, it is absolutely crying out for a generously thick slab of beef with Chimichurri sauce!Fergus Stewart, Private Account Manager